wfn.org | Church representatives will attend U.N. conference on racism

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

June 8, 2001  News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212)870-3803·New York
10-21-30-71B{262}

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodists will join other religious representatives as
nongovernmental participants in the third conference on racism to be
sponsored by the United Nations.

Set Aug. 31-Sept. 7 in Durban, South Africa, the U.N. World Conference
against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
will address new forms of racism based on culture, nationality, religion or
language. A forum for nongovernmental organizations will precede the event
from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.

The United Nations has adopted action programs for three "International
Decades to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination." During the first
decade, 1973-82, a structure was set up to focus on implementing
international methods to eliminate racial discrimination, and a worldwide
education campaign was launched. In the second decade, 1983-92, the United
Nations continued the public information campaign, drafted model legislation
to guide national governments and considered how victims of discrimination
can obtain recourse.

For the current decade, 1994-2003, the scope has been broadened to emphasize
that every society is affected by discrimination. Besides dealing with that
issue, the United Nations is also focusing on racism resulting from official
doctrines of racial superiority or exclusivity.

A provisional agenda with five themes was established for the conference in
Durban. Those themes center around the sources, causes, forms and
contemporary manifestations of racism and related topics; the victims; the
measures of prevention, education and protection to eradicate racism on all
levels; provision of effective remedies, recourses and redress; and
strategies to achieve full and effective equality.

Gretchen Hakola, communications staff with the United Methodist Board of
Church and Society, attended a preparatory meeting for the Durban conference
last month in Geneva. She said work was continuing on a draft declaration
and platform for action for the event. 

The World Council of Churches (WCC), with its longtime commitment to
eliminating racism, is contributing its international experience in
preparation for the meeting. The WCC sponsored a May 10-13 preparatory
meeting in Dearborn, Mich., for U.S. and Canadian church representatives.

In addition to Hakola, NGO delegates to Durban representing the United
Methodist Board of Church and Society are Liberato Bautista and Kenrick
Fealing, staff executives; the Rev. Chester Jones, chief executive, United
Methodist Commission on Religion and Race; the Rev. Juanita Rasmus, a pastor
from Texas; and Elena Tarynor, a Church and Society director from Wisconsin.

Representing the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries are Elizabeth
Calvin, Suzanne Ife Williams, David Wildman and Lois Dauway, staff;
Roseangela Oliveira, Sebastine Ujereh, and Marthe Dansokno, missionaries;
and Mee Sue Park, Global Ministries director from California.

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United Methodist News Service
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